This results in a reduced inside diameter which restricts flow.
JavaScript is disabled. Zinc build-up can cause your fixtures to clog up. We have used Dave and Terry at E.R. Also because of this easy availability, they are very popular as you can get them almost anywhere.
Just a collar similar to the line itself that you place over the line, expand and then shove the fitting in and allow to relax. The debate on plastic versus brass continues, inert against nearly all heat transfer fluids due to the chromium (III) oxide passivation layer covering the surface. The grey in RVs I don't think is pex as it cannot withstand freezing. As a result, class action lawsuits are under way. JavaScript is disabled. ", "I called E.R.
Enter Our Dog Days of Summer BBQ Giveaway Now!
There was a huge lawsuit some time ago. Now that many plumbing systems are moving to plastic PEX piping, the corrosive attack is concentrated on the brass fittings which make up a small percentage of the surface area of the plumbing system. If you have Dura Pex, you may still be able to get in on the class action suit that has been filed against NIBCO CPI Dura Pex. I like to share my view on everything related to bathroom stuff. Most PEX pipes are reliable pipes.
No complaints thus far. I use brass and have for more than a decade with no problems what so ever. Flow rate can be defined as the volume or amount of liquid that passes through pipes per unit of time.
That being said, there are some applications where plastic would out last brass. Another concern that contractors have with using plastic PEX crimp fittings is they require a thicker wall than metal fittings to meet manufacturing codes.
The main logic behind this consideration is the ability of the fitting to withstand a water hammer. It used to be that way, but PEX has been legal for a few years now in SF.
cpvc brass There's some good online options as well. Install a whole house water filtration system that removes chlorine, chlorine by-products, and helps with pH. They were quick and courteous on all communications and gave me a quote via email when I sent a picture of my existing water heater. Strength is important to think about as well. So be careful! Brass can also be reused if you mess up on the joint, where most times the plastic fitting gets tossed. I wouldn't use Pex-B (crimp style) in an inaccessible location due to higher chance of failure.
"The ABC Board has a long time relationship with ER Plumbing Service and is very pleased with the close working relationship that has been developed with the employees look forward to maintaining and continuing our customer/client relationship well into the future.
If you had your doubts, well doubt no more!
I've always been concerned about the plastic fittings, they seem cheap to me. It offers a sense of privacy while taking a bath.
To keep the moisture away, you should always use a very good quality substrate or building Society6 Shower Curtain Review 2022: Is It Worth The Cost?
We hope our PEX Plastic Fittings vs. Brasscomparisonwill help you in your pursuit! But that does not necessarily mean that water everywhere will be of top quality. Or maybe manifold with branches to local manifolds in bathrooms? While Brass and Stainless PEX fittings have the same standard and ID, the shape of the fitting also comes into account. I've heard the grey pex pipe isn't any good. (https://youtu.be/qWuunjqln_4), Differences Between Sharkbite And PEX Crimp.
There are plumbing contractors who insist on one over the other, while another group would use each material based on application.
But in case its the opposite, corrosion will occur at a higher rate.
Original products are difficult to find. link to GoBoard Vs. Kerdi For Your Shower: In-depth Comparison. That's all ya need ta know. One of the key reasons why brass fittings are so expensive is because of their availability. Get out of HD and Lowes and over to a decent plumbing supplier. I'm familiar with PEX pipe and I have the tools for the crimp style and the copper rings. The price difference between my local building supply and a plumbing supply i now use Our local place sells pex clamps individually, which was good because I was one short.so I bought 20.
Plumbing to get a quote on replacing my water heater. When you're faced with an unpleasant task that you really don't want to do, sometimes you just have to dig deep down inside and somehow find the patience to wait for someone else to do it for you. They provide high strength, high corrosion resistance and large flow passages.
I am Clyde Mitchell and I actually write and run the site. Come join the discussion about tools, projects, builds, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Copper is much more corrosion resistant than brass because brass is an alloy made up of multiple materials, mainly Copper and Zinc.
In conclusion, history has proven that both brass and plastic PEX fittings have their advantages and disadvantages. You suggestions and opinions are always wecome.
Pricing everything out, it seems like using brass crimp shutoffs/tees and copper manifolds would run me about $400+, while using Sharkbite (brand) poly shutoffs/tees and manifolds would be closer to $200. A water hammer occurs when there is a shockwave passing through a certain plumbing system while a valve is closed and water barrages down a pipe. Differences Between Long Sweep And Short Sweep 90, Brass or Plastic Pex Fittings?
But on the flip side, plastic PEX fittings are better suited to fight corrosion.
The presence of zinc in brass makes brass susceptible to dezincification.
Learn how your comment data is processed.
If you do volume, you should get better pricing at a supplierbetter quality as well. This video has explained their differences better!https://youtu.be/qWuunjqln_4Video cant be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Brass or Plastic Pex Fittings? Hydronic heating systems are another area where some contractors have hesitancy using Plastic PEX fittings, due to high temperature fluid flowing through the fittings continually. This type of yellow brass contains a lot of zinc, and that high zinc content causes problems. I know a guy who can have all the stainless pex fittings you want and you can even send a product for them to copy and then change alittle for it to be legal in the U.S. Two, the leaching of zinc causes a white residue to build up inside the pipes, constricting water flow. Dura Pex (by CPI) is prone to cracking and probably has already caused you a lot of headaches (and bills for pipe fixes). Stephen Hawking: If the government is covering up knowledge of Aliens, they are doing a better job of it then they do at anything else. Are there problems with either one? Because of being accessible easily, they do not cost as much. One class action lawsuit against Zurn, a fitting manufacturer, is something to consider if you have fittings that are labeled Zurn F1807 Fittings. If you need to have your pipes or fittings replaced, ask your plumber to see if they have this label and if you could be considered for this lawsuit. They have a low rate of resistance, and this is especially palpable after a few years of usage. Services - All Things Plumbing, Leak Detection.
Services - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy, PEX-A (Uponor/Wirsbo and Rehau): dezincification of fittings and chemical leaching/odor (AquaPEX only), PEX-B (Zurn & Viega): dezincification of fittings, PEX-C (Nibco/CPI/DuraPEX): cracked, leaking pipes, PEX-AL-PEX (Kitec/IPEX): dezincification of fittings.
PLUMB eeze Stainless Steel PEX Elbows were designed with a sweep to significantly reduce these effects.
How to Connect PEX Using a Copper Crimp Ring. This spreads the corrosion out evenly.
Finally looking to get started on a gradual repipe project, running PEX to hot and cold manifolds that Ill build myself (interested in groups of 4 or fewer lines per manifold to avoid certain fixtures gaining priority). JavaScript is disabled. Come join the discussion about racing, builds, pro mods, hot rods, events, turbos, nitrous, superchargers, and more! Buying a product with five times the amount, and with a high probability of corrosion seems like an irrational decision for most people. Plastic if you're on a well and the water is acidic. I just don't want to use them and the person who purchases the home have a problem shortly after purchase. On October 26th, 2018, the NIBCO PEX Settlement Administrator and Plaintiffs law firms announced a class action settlement involving allegedly defective PEX tubing, fittings and clamps. Just trying to see if anyone has experience with the poly fittings?
As an Amazon Associate, I Earn From Qualifying Purchases.
The reason is because the fitting inserts inside the pipe, rather than sealing on the outside like copper piping systems. And as of late, defective PEX fittings have been identified as homeowners and businesses across the country have been affected by large-scale water leaks caused by corroded PEX fittings. Defective PEX fittings were first introduced in the 1990s, but the problems are really just now coming to light. The corrosive attack on brass fittings has become more of a problem with PEX systems. If the fittings are $0.20 more and I used 100 of them on a job, it's only a $20 difference in material cost. Someone mentioned using Supplyhouse.com. If your home or business has PEX pipes, keep an eye out for the following signs: If any of your fittings are visible, check them for corrosion. As for Wirsbo, if you dont spin with every expansion it'll leak with the plastic fittings but not with the brass. Did the whole house in 2 days and was able to keep from cutting out a ton of drywall because of how flexible the stuff is, and the color coded lines are a nice touch. In this article, we have broken down different facets to help you come to a decision.
These are scams, and you should be careful not to fall for them.
This problem is not prevalent for plastic fittings as they have better adaptability to changing water conditions. Why the popularity? for all of our plumbing needs since 2008. This is correct. But this does not become a big problem as the brass area is relatively small in area. The problem has been complicated with the change to No-Lead Brass, not all low lead brasses are created equal. Now that the shift has been started, there is only one place for the corrosion to go and that is the brass fittings.
Plastic vs brass fittings can also have a different ID as well. The owner even went to retrieve a part from his home for us during a construction project on short notice on a Friday.
This leaching weakens the fittings due to a process called dezincification.
Flow rate is also a very important consideration. Can it break or crack the plastic fittings??
With the pros and cons of brass and plastic, the introduction of Stainless Steel PEX fittings changes the conversation as Stainless solves many issues with traditional PEX crimp fittings. Stainless steel PEX fittings are an excellent choice for your next system. I used to waste a lot of my time trying to find the best deal, but soon realized it was a waste of time.
Over-chlorinated water can cause leaching of chemicals from PEX pipes. Other brands of PEX pipes have endured pretty wellexcept when you take fittings into account. pex fittings plastic pipe plumbing metal than why better brass copper galvanized plumbers familyhandyman tricks steel join diy trade weekend If the leaks are severe, you might have to make wholesale changes to your pipes and fittings.
Still some use for copper.
Copper/brass fittings are becoming more popular as well.
I switched over to Viega pureflow system which use SS sleeves and bronze fittings. Are you talking about the "econo" line sharkbites that are plastic? When the water hits an abrupt change in direction it creates a lot of turbulence, which causes friction loss and reduces flow.
There are two problems that come from high zinc content in brass fittings. I run a hardware store nearby Court Anaheim, CA.
Could I get everyones thoughts on the following? Interesting. They are overpriced on everything--but that's to be expected as the city is a half an hour away, so we pay for convenience. Assess your budget as well before you decide which you want to buy. If cost was no obstacle, then I would only install stainless steel pipe and fittings.
The Pex Pipe lawsuit was settled in 2018.
What's your opinion on the stainless steel PEX fittings vs. brass vs. plastic?
The installation process of plastic fittings is a bit tougher in comparison to that of brass fittings.
Check out information on repiping services for homes and businesses using Dura PEX pipes. However, one brand in particular has routinely failed Dura PEX piping, manufactured by CPI (bought out by NIBCO). One of the key areas where people opt against using brass fittings is their resistance to corrosion. Brass is tried and true (unless you like in Nevada) and so is SS.
Thanks. Which clamps are you using and does the type of connector matter as far as clamping goes.
Stainless PEX fittings eliminate the need and cost for dual inventories, as they feature the best. When I think of plastic pex fittings I think of RV construction. When posting in forums, letting us know your location will help others give better feedback/advice/solutions to your questions.
For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You can run the most basic rule of Economics here price rises because of less supply, whereas price falls when there is more than enough supply.
If they are just as good then I'll most likely use them. The jury is still out on plastic. One of the main reasons why people prefer brass fittings is because of their higher strength.
PEX pipes have been determined to be best suited for low- and non-chlorinated plumbing systems. This raises less resistance, thus enabling a higher flow rate. A whole house water filtration system will fix that problem. The better the quality of water, the less is the corrosion. If improperly stored or installed next to a source of odor, PEX may transfer it (albeit, in small amounts) to water, resulting in unpleasant smell or aftertaste.People living near industrial activities (drilling, manufacturing) have reported gasoline-like or an unpleasant chemical odor and/or taste in their water.
If reduced diameter is a problem then you can use 3/4" pex X 1/2" copper adapters. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
A forum community dedicated to professional plumbers. There is hesitance among some contractors who feel plastic fittings are weaker and will not use them. The following are common fittings we encounter: Heres the problem, those fittingswhether were talking about a connector or a corner sectionneeds to work properly or the plumbing comes apart. In this blog we are going to investigate the typical views between brass and plastic and how Stainless PEX fittings stack up. For residential, I thought trunk and branch was out and manifold was better?
I found them on Angie's List and they were very highly rated.
Ive seen some reviews that the black poly shutoffs can leak, but the upfront savings is enticing.
I am now getting into renovating homes and some have to be fully gutted. I have been sticking with the brass ones, and I know the price is higher. As a result, they can also fight off leaks. 4 times the price of brass but will outlast all of us. These days, many plumbing systems are moving to plastic fittings. The price of a product determines whether it falls within your budget. Stainless steels superior corrosion resistance will outperform brass, especially due to the very thin wall structure of metal PEX crimp fittings. I don't want to find out.
document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.
The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Pex-C is not very common. If you are using plastic crimp fittings throughout a whole house, this can cause significant flow restriction, see chart below. I prefer Pex-A (Uponor, expansion type) with brass fittings. Being prone to leaks makes their usage a hazard, and has the potential to cost you a good chunk of money to fix damages. If you do not have constraints, get the best product. Defective PEX fittings can cause extensive damage to your plumbing, necessitating expensive plumbing repairs if the issues arent identified and replaced before your pipes completely fail. Over the last 7 years, I have been blogging about home improvement and yes, I own ReliefInBath.com Due to having a smaller ID than brass fittings, plastic PEX fittings have a lower flow rate. Even made a 1 long 3/4capped line just to test the plastic fittings and the line swelled like hell and burst before the fittings ever let go. As you can see in the image below, Stainless is much stronger than Brass and Poly. One, when water flows through the high zinc brass fittings, the zinc in the fittings leaches out of the fittings. To get the listed its expensive. PEX pipes, while reliable and flexible, have a problem: they need to connect to existing pipes. Pricing is a very important factor to consider before you make any purchase. Get your water tested. Tired of going through online articles that go on and on but cant seem to be conclusive? Especially if there's hard water. In particular, over-chlorinated water is a primary cause of leaching of chemicals from PEX pipes. Initially, this might seem negligible, but the restriction of flow might cause a lack of pressure down the line when there are multiple fixtures operating at the same time.
Why to Consider Stainless Pex Crimp Fittings. When multiple fixtures are in use this complicates matters more, resulting in poor pressure and flow. Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum. It is extremely important to keep your shower wall separated from all the moisture in the shower/bathroom. At the end of the day, what you will buy is entirely up to you.
Per the settlement website: You may be entitled to benefits from a class action settlement if: (a) you have owned or occupied at any time since January 1, 2005, a residential or commercial structure in the United States that contains or contained NIBCOs Pex Tubing, Fittings or Clamps and have unreimbursed costs or damages resulting from water leaking from one of these products, or (b) you have repaired or paid to repair damage resulting from water leaking from one of these products in one of these structures., Tags: Corroded fittings PEX pipes, PEX pipe fittings problems, pex pipe lawsuit settled, PEX pipes problems, PEX plumbing problems, "Stop looking for a plumber and call E.R.
You can have them made to any specs you want. Required fields are marked *.
If the condition of the water is good, they tend to wane slowly. Organized people are just too lazy to look for their shit. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. clamps loveland
Because bathroom fittings are not visible insight, you might be unaware of the existence of a problem. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This problem is a lot less concerning that the degradation of fittings and the consequential breakage, but it is still notable.
", Charlotte Matthews Huntersville Indian Trail Mint Hill Harrisburg Waxhaw Cornelius Monroe Concord, 2022 E.R. I have not used them yet but had a supply rep stop by our work and give a demo on the plastic ones, there tough, you can take a hammer to them and they won't break or crack. This may seem insignificant with one fitting. Its called polypropylene. What fittings are you using when plumbing with PEX? i use them a lot of the time and have had good luck with them.
That guy in video have mental issues plus eat hole turtle from some reason. 
As a result, they are very much prone to leaks. If you want to install a plastic fitting, you have to go through some rigorous steps, whereas it is not as difficult when installing brass fittings. Pricing is always transparent and completely fair for the quality of work the do.
PLUMB eeze Stainless Steel PEX Elbows were designed with a sweep to significantly reduce these effects. 
PEX piping is a very common type of pipe, used in Charlotte and across the nation. Check it out. Plastic is less susceptible to corrosion; thus its usage is increasing as more people tend to think long term. I would give them a try, plastic fittings today are much better then they use to be, We have been using wirsbo pex and plastic fitting for about 15 years and still no problem with fittings. As I mentioned above plastic PEX has a smaller inside diameter than brass and stainless which will further reduce flow. The reason these fittings are defective fittings has been determined: they were crafted using poor quality yellow brass UNS C3600 and C37700 brass alloy.
Only used brass for viega. Thats the problem we are going to discuss today. In conclusion, history has proven that both brass and plastic PEX fittings have their advantages and disadvantages. First things first. Or is brass what you're using?
As a result, you will have to spend a lot of money depending on the type of repair you have to do. One thing you have to keep in mind is that the quality of the water flowing always plays a role in corrosion.
Due to the affects that poor water quality has on brass, stainless steel is being adopted more in many plumbing applications. associated with high zinc alloys increases the risk of fitting failure.
By adaptability, we mean the ability of something to adapt to changing circumstances, or environment. Generally, the brass PEX fitting will cost you almost five times that of plastic fittings. Basically, this means the fittings corrode and fall apart, which causes major problems with your plumbing, much of which occurs unseen inside walls or underground. Why are so many homes having problems with PEX pipe brass fittings? Corrosion resistance is a factor behind this shift. But if anyone has had experience with them and the quality just isn't there then the savings won't be worth it.
Come join the discussion about the industry, safety, finishing, tools, machinery, projects, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Honest, professional, and clean. The superior corrosion resistance, flow rates and strength of these fittings demonstrate their versatility and how they can be used in a wider range of applications. KITEK was junk because typical water leached the zink out of the fittings and they started leaking. Services. First of all, you should have a plumber check your home or business to see if you have PEX pipes or not. As I mentioned above, one of the issues with Brass is corrosion resistance. Give us a call and well review the situation with you to determine what action is most cost-effective and proactive. Because of this, few companies can control the market supply, as well as the price they are charging. The problem has been complicated with the change to No-Lead Brass, not all low lead brasses are created equal. A forum community dedicated to Do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts. These elements cannot fight corrosion as well as other elements, per se.
If you are using plastic crimp fittings throughout a whole house, this can cause significant flow restriction, see chart below. If you see it, replace it because it will leak. A forum community dedicated to drag racing drivers and enthusiasts. I wouldn't trust the plastic fittings from homedepot, they'll probably get brittle and crack.
This is the reason the conversation around corrosion resistance is so important when talking about PEX systems. On the contrary, such tensions about corrosion are much lower when it comes to plastic fittings.
NY Times."Prison Population Growing Although Crime Rate Drops".
PEX.
It depends on the quality or condition of the water. Your email address will not be published.
Traditionally plumbing piping systems were made entirely from copper pipe and fittings.